Rebecca Shabad is a Washington-based NBC News political reporter.
Washington — President Joe Byden made an exception to the Senate's agenda on Thursday to protect Law vs. Wade against women's right to abortion. He said he supports culture. And the right to privacy.
"We believe Roe v. Wade needs to be legislated. The way to do that is to make sure Congress votes to do it. Obstruction of proceedings. If it gets in the way, it's like voting rights ... it should be an exception to the agenda of this action to deal with the Supreme Court's decision, "Biden said in Madrid. At the meeting, the Supreme Court's decision overturned the groundbreaking decision of 1973.
Asked to further clarify his position, Byden said he supported making an exception to obstruction of proceedings to protect his right to privacy.
Senate agenda requires 60 votes to allow the passage of most laws. Progressive Democrats have promoted the elimination of agenda in order to pass a major part of Byden's agenda.
When the draft of theSupreme Court opinionwas leaked in early May, Senator Bernie Sanders, for example, called for an end to the agenda. To systematize the right to abortion so that it can be passed by a simple majority.
However, it's not that simple. Democratsmay not have 50 votesanyway to make that happen.
Moderate Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. , And Kirsten Cinema, D-Arizona, continue to oppose removing the agenda, neither joining a Democratic colleague to seek Roe's codification. v. Wade.
When the Democratic Party ruled the Senate in 2013, they called a "nuclear option" to remove 60 votes from the proceedings, with executive candidates and justice other than those submitted to the Supreme Court. I have confirmed the candidates for. In 2017, Senate Republicans did it again, but for Supreme Court candidates to confirm Neil Gorsuch, then President Donald Trump's choice, without a Democratic vote.
